In observance of the inaugural 2012 International Day of the Girl Child, a High-Level panel discussion co-organized by UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women and Girls Not Brides, will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. A panel of experts will discuss how to progress girls’ rights and address the unique challenges they face, with a focus on ending child marriage.
Panelists will include:
- Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chair of The Elders, founders of Girls Not Brides
- Hon. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs, Bangladesh
- Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, UNFPA
- Dr. Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director, UN Women
- Ms. Geeta Rao Gupta, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF
- Ms. Salamatou Aghali Issoufa, Youth Activist, Niger
- Moderator: Ann Curry, National and International Anchor, NBC News
On 11 October, UNFPA will release a report documenting the scope, prevalence and inequities associated with child marriage and launch a exhibit of striking images and text from the award-winning photographer Stephanie Sinclair.
